Bed comfortable



Oct. 16, 1928.

R. H. MELCER BED COMFORTABLE Filed July 2, 1926 a Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 16,1928.

R. H. MELCER BED COMFORTABLE Filed July 2, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 R. H. MELCER BED COMFORTABLE Filed July 2, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Oct. 16, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RALPH H. MELCER, OF NEW LONDON, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE PALMER BROTHERS COMPANY, OF NEW LONDON, CONNECTICUT.

BED COMFORTABLE.

Application filed July 2,

This invention relates to bed comfortables, and more particularly to a comfortable so constructed that it is quite ornamental in appearance and may be used as a counterpane or an ornamental covering for the bed when the latter is not in use. In general, padded or quilted bed coverings are quite plain, at their edges and are usually tucked in about the mattress of the bed, and an ornamental counterpane is then used as a top covering the edges of which depend or hang freely about the sides of the bed.

One object of this invention is to provide a bed comfortable of ornamental character so that the use of a counterpane in addition may be obviated and the comfortable used as the top covering for the bed.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a padded or quilted bed comfortable having a flounce extending about the periphery thereof, the flounce being adapted to hang freely about the edges of the bed so as to presentan ornamental appearance, in which case the comfortable may be used as the top covering for the bed, including the pillows, and the necessity for using a separate counterpane and pillow-shams will be obviated.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an ornamental quilted or padded comfortable having a flounce about its entire periphery, the flounce hanging freely about the sides of the bed when in place so as to cover the bed clothing therebeneath.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a padded or quilted comfortable of ornamental character having a relatively wide depending flounce about its entire periphery normally extending downwardly from the edges of the comfortable, and a rela tively narrow heading extending upwardly therefrom.

To these and other ends the invention consists in the novel features and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a bed showing the ordinary daytime use of a comfortable embodying my improvements.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing 1926. S.eria1-No. 120,199.

the comfortable and bed clothes turned down as they would be during night use of the bed.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 2 a of Fig. 2.

Fig. 3 is an underneath perspective view of the comfortable.

Fig. 4 comprises a fragmentary side view and a sectional view of the flounce after being hemmed, but prior to its being gathered;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 after the flounce has been gathered;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on line 6-6 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on line 77 of Fig. 8.

The preferred embodiment of my invention which I have selected to illustrate and describe is shown in Fig. 1 in connection with a bed 10, the comfortable 11 covering the bed clothing, including the pillows, as would ordinarily be its functionin the daytime or when the bed is not in use. The body portion of the comfortable 11 is padded or quilted, and, as shown in Fig. 6, consists of upper and lower pieces of material 12 and 13, between which is the padding or stuffing 14 held in place by the quilting stitches 15. This part of the comfortable may be made in the usual or any preferred way, the comfortable as shown, however, preferably being so made as to provide a warm covering for the bed. The upper and lower faces 12 and 13 are sewed together at 16 leaving a small edging 17 extending about the edges of the comfortable. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, a flounce of con siderable width is provided which consists of a strip of material of sufiicient length to extend entirely around the periphery of the comfortable itself. This material is first hemmed adjacent its upper edge to provide a relatively narrow heading 18 compared to .the width of the flounce proper 19, the hem being held by the line of stitching 20. l/Vhile the dimensions shown are not intended to be followed with exactness, it has been found that a very desirable and ornamental article is produced when the flounce 19 is say from six to twelve inches in width and the heading one to one and one-half inches in width.

The flounce is then gathered, as shown in Fig. 5, and stitched along the line 21 to retain the gathers in position. The flounce is then ready to be applied to the comfortable, and it may be applied by being sewed to the underside of the edging 17, the stitching passing through the flounce adjacent the lines of stitching 20 and 21 so that substantially the entire width of the heading will project above the comfortable. A very ornamental article is produced due both to the downhanging flounce and also to the upstanding heading, which materially adds to the appearance of the completed article. The heading is of course of two-ply thickness, and thus has sufficient rigidity to hold its position. The edge 17 is, as shown in Fig. 6, of four-ply thickness, and a very strong and secure connection can be made between this edging and the double ply heading of the flounce.

It will be apparent that the bed comfortable described will be very ornamental in appearance, and at the same time will constitute a warm covering for the bed, and thus will have the double function of comfortable and counterpane, and avoids the use of a separate counterpane such as is now the custom.

As shown in Fig. 1, the flounce at the head of the comfortable may be extended in daytime use so as to entirely cover the pillows of the bed, and thus also. avoid the use of pillow shams. As shown in Figs. 2 and 2*, when the bed is to be used the flounce at the I head may be folded underneath the comfortable to lie against the under face thereof so that it will be out of the way, and the bed sheet 22 will ordinarily be folded over the outside of the body of the comfortable. It will, of course, be understood that the flounce is not padded or quilted, and so will not add materially to the thickness of the bed clothing when folded under as shown in the figures referred to. The flounce, therefore, at the head of the comfortable, while effectually covering the pillows during the time when the bed is not in use, may be disposed of in the manner described when the bed is in use without discomfort to the occupant.

It may be found desirable, if the pillows are not to be covered up, to omit the heading and flounce at the head of the bed, and only provide it upon the two sides and the foot. This arrangement may, of course, be pro- 'vided without departing from the invention.

In order to make the comfortable more ornamental the flounce may, if desired, be embellished with scalloping, fiuting, picot work,

shell stitching, lace edging, embroidering, or other form or ornamentation, without departing from the principles of the invention.

It will be understood that the term bed clothing as used in this description may in clude the illows or bolsters as well as the usual artic es of bed clothing.

While I have shown and described a prferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that it is not to be-limited to all the details shown but is capable of modification and variation within the spirit of the invention and within the scope of the appended claim.

What I claim is In a bed comfortable, a padded or quilted body portion, a gathered flounce attached to the edges thereof and designed to hang downwardly therefrom, -and a gathered heading projecting upwardly from the flounce to a point at least as high as the upper face of the body port-ion, said flounce and heading extending entirely about the periphery of the body portion, .said heading being of two-ply thickness of material and said flounce being of single thickness and said heading and flounce being formed integrally with each other.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 28 day of June, 1926.

RALPH MELCER. 

